Zoo Tycoon

by THQ

Product Features

• Animal lovers are counting on you to create the best zoo ever as you select the animals, run the gift shop, build fences and more
• First tycoon-style game on a handheld
• Dual screen and touch screen technology allow for seamless zoo-play

Product Details

• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B000A3ON5A
• Product Dimensions: 5 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches ; 4 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: June 15, 2006
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,038 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
  • #17 in Video Games > Nintendo DS > Strategy
  • #35 in Video Games > Nintendo DS > Simulation

Product Description

Platform: Nintendo DS

From the Manufacturer

Encounter the ultimate zoo experience in Zoo Tycoon DS. Create the zoo of your dreams as you select your favorite animals and re-create their natural habitats. Get up close and personal while collecting and caring for the world’s most popular animals from every continent. Manage your environment properly and achieve the ultimate goal of a zoo full of happy animals and customers.

Features:

• The multi-platinum Zoo Tycoon franchise comes to a handheld system for the first time.
• The first tycoon-style game ever on handheld! The DS touch screen allows for seamless life-simulation gameplay.
• Purchase and adopt a menagerie of animals, including lions, giraffes, and tigers!
• Collect all 50 animal cards filled with facts on your favorite zoo animals.

Product Description

Encounter the ultimate zoo experience in Zoo Tycoon DS! Get up close and personal while adopting and caring for the world's most popular animals from every continent. Achieve the ultimate goal of creating the ultimate dream zoo full of happy animals and guests!Format: NINTENDO DS Genre: SPORTS/GAMES Rating: RP UPC: 785138361055 Manufacturer No: 36105

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

125 of 135 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A simplified version that keeps *most* of what's fun about Zoo Tycoon, October 20, 2005

By 

Chris Walters (Brooklyn, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Zoo Tycoon (Video Game)

If you're a fan of Zoo Tycoon I, you'll find this as addictive as the PC/Mac versions. But the game has been simplified for the DS and I've noticed a few differences:

- you can't read guest's thoughts
- you can't change the price of refreshments
- you can't customize the color of buildings
- when adopting animals, you can't read the informative text about their natural habitats, diet, etc. (You *can* read about the animals, but only outside of the game--you purchase animal "cards" during gameplay that you can review after you complete a scenario)
- there's no map of the zoo to easily jump around
- financial data and options are limited
- decorating and object placement is limited to one object per grid square--no more filling a square with multiple small bushes, for example
- you can only save one game at a time--there is no dialogue box to name or sort save games, just a single "now saving" animation, so don't expect to have multiple versions of games saved or share the game with another player
- it's a bit slow compared to every other DS game I've played, both at start up and when resizing the map

Still, it's Zoo Tycoon, so if you love it you can easily learn to live with the limitations. The construction tools work okay. I personally don't like having the map always isolated on the upper screen, because the only way to move the cursor is via the directional pad on the left--it makes for a very "clicky" game and aligning the hand precisely can sometimes be a pain. I keep finding myself wishing they'd swapped screen layouts and let you use the stylus like a PC mouse, but for whatever reason you're limited to the directional pad for all direct map interactions.

Finally, my game froze on me at one point--the first time I've had that happen with any DS game. I also accidentally triggered a bug in the research screen once where it went into hyperspeed and gave me discovery after discovery (while eating through funds) until I paused/unpaused the game, but I haven't been able to repeat that bug.

To be fair, I think some of the DS-specific changes to game play work fine. It just might take you a while to get used to them, especially if you're expecting a clone of the PC version.

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Zoo Tycoon DS, December 14, 2005

A Kid's Review

= Fun:3.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Zoo Tycoon (Video Game)

Zoo Tycoon DS is a recipe for fun right in your own DS. Because it is portable, you can play it anywhere. At a boring grown up party, during a long car ride or plane flight, or when you just feel like it; you are always ready for Zoo Tycoon fun. Zoo Tycoon is an exiting game where you are able to purchase a block of land of your choice, and build exibits, place paths, and purchase animals for guests visiting your zoo to enjoy. Just like the computer version, you have to hire zoo keepers to feed and care for your animals, you must design suitable exibits in order to keep your animals happy, you can place food stands and wash rooms for your guests, and you can design rest areas and play areas for the guests visiting your zoo. The only differece between the original computer version is that the screen is smaller. I would recomend that children under eight would probably not enjoy this version unless they are used to a small screen, but might enjoy the computer version. This DS version compares favourably to the first computer version, and has the added advantge of two screens. This allows you to interact even more, and to have more control over your zoo. It can be difficult to get the hang of it, but when you do it is one of the best games made for a Nintendo DS.

42 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun - But Should have Been Better, September 3, 2006

By 

Lisa Shea "medieval swordfighting enthusiast" - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

= Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Zoo Tycoon (Video Game)

I love the Zoo Tycoon series, raising and caring for zoo animals. I was thrilled to get a DS version to carry around. The implementation on the DS is a bit flawed, though.

First, the basics. You are in control of a zoo, and have to set up exhibits so that the animals you care for are happy. You choose the proper terrain mix, add in some trees and rocks, and maybe a shelter or two. Then you also care for your human visitors - giving burger stands, drink stands, restrooms and benches. If you care for everyone well, you have happy animals, happy visitors and a successful zoo.

This is exactly the kind of game I love. I can play the Zoo Tycoon series for hours and hours. However, I found many problems with the DS implementation that made playing it quite frustrating.

First, some of the changes that they made to simplify the game, which helped to make it playable on the DS. You set up an exhibit fence as a 'block', drawing it on the lower grid. Once it's set, that's it. You can't add or remove pieces later. You don't even set a gate on it. It's a solid fence.

Into each exhibit you place a zookeeper. No more managing zookeeper paths - each exhibit has its own zookeeper. You don't manage individual visitors' happinesses either, or shop incomes.

In a change which I found very saddening, you don't get any information on your animals any more! Surely having a page or two of text about each animal's lifestyle and habitat wouldn't have maxed out the DS card. I found this change very odd. Part of the fun of this game is learning all about the animals, and it doesn't make sense that they took it away.

I understand completely that games need to be "simplified" to be playable on the DS. Still, some changes don't make any sense. For example, if you set up an exhibit and add animals, and then decide you want the exhibit to be a little bigger, too bad. You are stuck for the rest of the level with that exhibit.

Also, if your task is to get X goal within 10 months - and you hit the goal long before then, then you have to sit there and wait the entire time to reach the end. It won't realize you have reached your goal. I had the same issue with the tutorials - I'd do what it wanted, but often it wouldn't realize it until I undid the task and then re-did it again.

The interface had many quirks which were frustrating. When you're drawing cages, you have a grid on the bottom and a picture of the area on the top - and the two don't relate to each other at all. You can't move the grid once you start drawing. It takes a lot of trial and error to get the cage where you want it, if you can even draw the cage size you want based on the interface's limitations.

Finally, the zoos are all *really* small and you can only save one save game. So if you have a great zoo you're working on, and you want to casually play another quick game in the meantime, you can't do it. If you're sharing your DS with your sibling, it won't work at all.

I really do love Zoo Tycoon so I play through the issues, and get enjoyment out of what I have. Still, I really hope if they come out with a Zoo Tycoon 2 that they fix a lot of these issues and make it more of the game I love.

Recommended.

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